Excavating-machine.



E. J. MUNDALE.

EXGAVATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED mm: 29, 1908.

923,290. Patented June 1,1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Z/izwam E. J. MUNDALE. EXCAVATING MAUHINE.

. AEPLICATION FILED JUNE 29, 1908. 923,290. Patented June 1, 1909. 3 SHEETS-SHEET Z x 9: m M. g M

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EXCAVATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 29, 1908.

I Patented Jun 1,1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3,

To all whom it may concern:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD J. MUNDALE, oF FROST, MINNESOTA.

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Be. it known that I, EDWARD J. MUNDALE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Frost, in the county of Faribault and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in -Excavating Mas chines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has for its object to provide an improved excavating machine especially adapted for use in digging trenches or ditches in which to lay drain pipes, sewer pipes, water pipes and the like; and to this end it consists of the novel devices and combinations of devices hereinafter described and defined in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention, like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan View of the improved excavating machine. Fig. 2 is aside elevation of the machine. Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the lines a of Fig. 2, some parts being broken away. Fig. 4 is a detail in side elevation, showing on an enlarged scale an endless excavating device, some parts being broken away. Fig. 5'is a'front elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 4; and Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken on the line a a of Fig. 4.

The framework 1 of the machine is preferably constructed of metal and is supported by the rear traction wheels 2 and ront steering wheels 3. The traction wheels '2 are loosely journaled on an axle 4 that is rigidly secured to the frame 1, while the front wheels 3 are journaled on an axle 5 that is intermediately pivoted to a bracket 6 secured to the front portion of the frame 1. A steering device, not shown, but such as customarily used on traction engines, may

be employed to control the oscillatory movements of the axle 4 and, hence, to properly steer the machine. Large spur gears 7 are secured to the hubs of the traction Wheels 2, and these mesh-with pinions 8 secured on the ends of a transverse counter-shaft 9 mounted in suitable-bearings on the intermediate portion ofthe frame 1 and provided with a large ratchet Wheel 10. The ratchet wheel 10 is ada ted to be 0 erated upon by a driving paw 11 carried y the upper end of a lever J Specificationof Letters Patent.

Application filed June 29, 1908. Serial No. 440,778.-

Patonted June, 1, 1909.

frame 1 and connected, by a rod 13, to a short crank 14 which, in turn, is carried'by a transverse counter-shaft 15 mounted .in suitable bearings on the frame 1. This countershaft 15, carries'a. pulley 16 and abevel gear 17..

12 intermediately'pivoted to one side of the Mounted on the intermediate portion of the frame 1 is an explosiv'engine,.ind1 cated as an entirety by the numeral 18, and of the parts of which it is only necessary for the purposes of this case to particularly note the crank shaft 19 thereof, which at one end carries a pulley 20 and at its other end is preferably provided with a fly wheel 21. A belt 22, shown only'by dotted lines in Fig. 2, runs over the aljned pulleys 20 and 16 to impart motion from the engine crank shaft to the transverse counter-shaft 1'5.

The excavating device comprises a ver-' tically adjustable supplemental-frame, upper and lower wheels or sprockets, and a scoop or bucket-equipped endless link chain arranged to run over said wheels or sprockets. The said su plemental frame is referably made up 0 vertically elongated spacedmetal plates' 23, transverse tie bars 24 and vertically extended a le guides or tracks 25, which parts are rigi y connected together and are mounted to move vertically as an entirety. This supplemental frame is guided for vertical movements preferably by laterally grooved anti-friction wheels 26 that engage vertically extended guide bars 27 secured to the outer sides of the frame plates 23.- These inward y projecting arms of bearing brackets 28 rigidly secured to the sides of the frame 1, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 3. Qne of the bars 27 is provided with rack teeth 29 with which engage a pinion 30 carried by the. rear end of a shaft 31 (see Figs. 1 and 3).. This shaft 31, at its rear end, is suitably journaled on the right hand bearing bracket 28; and, at its forward end, is journaled in one of the ide wheels 26 are mounted on thetransverse bars of the frame 1, and is prois, of course, evident that said supplemental frame will be locked in any vertical adjustment by the coperating worm 33 and worm gear 32.

The excavating scoops or buckets 36 are pivotally connected at 36, preferably to alternate oints of a pair of laterally spaced parallel link belts 37. These belts 37 run over upper and lower wheels or sprockets 38 that are secured in pairs on counter-shafts 39, journaled in suitable bearings on the side plates 23 of the vertically adjustable supplemental frame. 'Eachscoop or bucket 36 is provided with an intermediately secured inwardly projecting arm 40 that carries an anti-friction .wheel41 at its free end. The wheels 41,

throughout the working travel ofthe scoops y 36, run against a guide rail 42 that is rigid secured to certain of the transverse tie bars 24 of the vertically adjustable supplemental frame. This guide rail 42 extends vertically nearl from the top to the bottom of the said suppl emental frame and has rearwar dl y curved upper and lower extrenntles, and it is so dis osed in res ect to the said link belts 37 an the said w eels 41 that in its action upon the latter it will positively forcethe scoo s into extended or operative positions just efore they pass under the lower sprockets 38, and W111 hold the same in such operative positions until after the said scoops have passed over the upper s rockets.

The transversely opposite 'nks of the two carrier chains 37 are tied together by thin metal plates 43 and 44, the former of which coo erate with the adjacent scoo s 36 to hold the excavated dirt, and the atter of which prevent the dirt from falling into the sup lemental frame of the excavator.

ternate scoops 36 are preferably formed with'serrated or toothed outer edges 45 that project slightly beyond the corresponding edges of the other scoops and serve to loosen the dirt to be taken up by the next following scoop. The plates 43 that tie together transversely op osite links of the be ts 37 are provided wit inwardly dproj ecting flanges 43 to which are journale guide wheels 46 that run on the inner surface of the inwardly projecting flanges of the angle iron rails 25 and thus prevent the scoops 36 from being forced outward beyond their proper line of movement.

When the rollers '41 pass beyond the upper end of the guide rail 42 the scoops are released and permitted to move pivotally backward, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 4. While they are thus turned backward, the scoops are carried against a spring pressed scraper 47 which, as shown, is pivoted to brackets 48 secured to the side plates 23 of the vertically movable su' plemental frame. A roller 49 is also journaied in the brackets 48. An end less conveying belt 50 runs over the roller 49 and over another roller, not shown, which latter roller will be mounted in suitable sup ports, preferably at a considerable distance from the rear end of the excavating machine pro er.

otion is transmitted from the countershaft 15 above noted to the upper pair of chain wheels or sprockets'38, through the following connections: The bevel gear 17 meshes with a bevel gear 51 ona longitudinally extended counter-shaft 52 mounted in suitable to. At its upper end, the shaft 56 is journaled in a beam 57 on the upper end of the vertically movab e supplemental frame and is held for. vertical movements therewith. A bevel gear 58 on one end of the uppersprocket shafty39 meshes with a bevel gear 59 on the upper end of the shaft 56. I

As is evident, when the engine is running and the driving pawl 11 is in action on the ratchet wheel 10, the machine will be driven slowly forward and the scoop-equipped eX- cavatingbelts will be kept under constant motion in a direction to cause the scoops to scrape up the dirt and carry the same over onto the discharge belt 50, by which latter the dirt may be carried to a desirable point at the rear of the machine and discharged again back into the ditch. The advance movement of theexcavating ap aratus may be stopped at any time simply y turning the driving pawl 11 over into an inoperative position. As is evident, the depth of the ditch that will be du by the excavator may be varied by vertica adjustment of the supplemental frame and excavating devices carried thereon, and is accomplished by manipulation of the hand wheel 35 and connections already described.

The machine above described may be used I 'for a good many different purposes. It is capable of general use wherever a ditch or trench is to be formed and is especially adapted for use for digging comparatively narrow and deep trenches, such as required for laying drain pipes, water pipes, sewer pi es, gas pipes, etc.

hat I claim is:

1. In an excavating machine, the combination with a truck, of an engine carried by the frame of said truck, a connection between the crank shaft of said en ine and one of the wheels of said truck, inc uding a pawl and ratchet wheel, and an excavating device carried by said truck and driven from said engine, substantially as described.

, while they are being given return move- 2. In an excavating device, the combinal tion with a link belt and guiding and driving Wheels therefor, of scoops pivoted to certain i of the links of said belt and provided with i roller-equipped arms, a guide rail extending 1 along the line of the operative movement of said scoops and cooperating with said rollerequipped arms to hold said scoops projected throughout their operative movement, but permitting the same to turn backward under return movements, and a scraper operative on said scoops while they are turned back ward and are making their return movement, substantially as described.

3. In an excavating machine, the combination with a truck having a main frame and a vertically adjustable supplemental frame, of an endless excavating belt and guiding and driving wheels therefor mounted on said sup lemental frame, scoops pivoted to said be t and provided with wheel equipped arms, a guide rail coo erating withv said wheel-equipped arms to hofd said scoops projected throughout their operative movements, but permitting the same to turn back; ward under return movements, a springpressed scraper engageable with said scoops ments, a conveyer receiving and extending rearward from said excavator belt, and an engine on the frame of said truck having connections for driving said excavator belt, substantially as described.

4:3'Q-In an excavating machine, the combination with a truck having a main frame and a. vertically adjustable and vertically extended supplemental frame, of an endless scoop-equipped excavating belt and guiding and driving wheels therefor mounted on said supplemental frame, a vertically extended rack secured to said supplemental frame, a shaft mounted on said main frame and pro vided at one end with a worm gear and at its other end with a. spur pinion, the latter meshing with said rack, and an adjusting rod provided with a hand-piece and with a worm, the latter meshing with said worm gear, the

to lock the same in different vertical posi tions, substantially as described.

5. In an excavating device, the combination-with a vertically extended frame having endless belt guiding tracks, of a pair of ilaterally spaced link belts connected together by plates and cooperating guiding and driving wheels mounted on said frame, guide wheels carried by certain of the links of said belts and engaging said guide tracks, scoops pivotally connectedto certain of the links of said belts and provided with wheele uippedarms, and a guide rail cooperating with said wheel-equipped arms to hold said scoops projected throughout their operative movements but permitting them to turn backward under return movements, substantially as described.

6. In an excavating machine, the combination with a truck having a main frame, guide wheels on said main frame, and a vertically adjustable and a vertically extended supplemental frame mounted for cooperation with said guide wheels, of an endless scoop equipped excavating belt and guiding and driving wheels therefor mounted on sald supplemental frame, a vertically extended rack secured to said supplemental frame, a shaft mounted on said main frame and provided at one end with a worm gear and at its other end with a spur pinion, the latter meshing with said rack, and an adjustable rod provided with a hand piece and with a worm, the latter meshing with said worm gear, the said connections serving to impart verticaleadjustments to said supplemental frame and to lock the same in different vertical positions, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

- EDWARD J. MUNDALE.

Witnesses:

J. E. RORMAN, JOHN RENDAHL. 

